Rolling-mill



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. AIKEN.

ROLLING MILL.

No. 449,511. Patented Mar. 31,1891.

WITN ESSES INVENTOR ma Norms Farms co., muro-uws., wAsmNcmN, u. n:4

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

H. AIKBN.

u ROLLING MILL.

3 Sheets--Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

H.. AIKEN.

ROLLING MILL.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

HENRY AIKEN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROLLING-MILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,511, dated March31, 1891.

' Application iiled December 30, 1889. Serial No. 335,355. (No model.)

ToyctZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY AIKEN, of Pittsburg, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvan ia, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Rolling-Mills, of which the followingis a full, clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a plan Viewof a set of rolls and their feed-tables provided with my improvedguides, the roll-housings being shown in section. Fig.2 is a verticallongitudinal section on t-he line II Il of Fig. l. The iigures on thesecond sheet of the drawings are on a larger scale. Fig. 3 shows inlongitudinal section the rolls and the guides, the section being on theline III III of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a crosssect-ional view of the guides,the section being on the line IV IV of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a plan view ofthe guides, partly in section on the line V V ot Fig. 4. In Figs. 2, 3,and 4, dotted lines are employed to show the guides shifted in positionfrom one pass of the rolls to the next. Fig. o' is a side View, onalarger scale, of the rolls and guides and one of the feed-tabl es, thisiigu re being designed to illustrate one of the parts 'of the apparatusWhich could not clearly and conveniently be represented in Figs. I and2. Fig. 7is an end View of the guides, the feed-table being incrosssection. This figure illustrates a modified form ot the mechanismfor shifting the guides laterally.

Like symbols of referenceindicate like parts in each of the figures.

Heretofore in the operation of rolls for rolling rods or bars of iron orsteel, in which the metal is reduced by alternate back and forth passesit has been the most common practice to employ men to stand on oppositesides of the rolls to receive the metal as it is delivered, to turn itone-fourth round for the purpose of ettacing the iins produced at thepreceding pass, and to reinsert it again into the guides to pass in thereverse direction. The position of these men is somewhat dangerous, theWork is arduous, and adds considerably to the cost of manufacture. Theirpresence at the rolls also causes a practical limit to the production ofthe mill. They cannot give attention to more than one rod passingthrough one stand of rolls at once, since any greater number would socrowd the space about the rolls that the men would not have suflicientroom to perform their duties safely and efliciently.

It is the object ot' my invention to provide improved mechanical meansfor performing this Work of receiving, guiding, and delivering themetal, thus cheapening the cost of the product by diminishing the numberof men necessary to `be employed to tend the rolls, and increasing theoutput by enabling a number of rods or metal pieces to be passed throughthe difterentgrooves or passes of the rolls at the same time. By use ofmy improvement, which I am about to describe, I obtain all theadvantages derived from the removal of this Work from the uncertain careand limited capacity of human labor and putting it in charge ot areliable and surely-act ing machine.

To describe my improvement generally, I employ,in connection with a setot three-high rolls and their feed-tables, a series of guideboxesmounted on each of the tables, so as to move verticallytlierewitli,bet\veen the lower and the upper passes of the rolls. Theseries of guides areprovided with mechanism by Which on the rise andfall of the tables they are partially rotated, and also automaticallymoved laterally and reciprocally-that is to say, on the rise of thetable the guides on one side are moved a short distance in one directionand the guides on the other side in the opposite direction, and viceversa on the descent of the table. On first passing through the rollsthe metal rod is received by one of the guides, and When lthe feed-tableis elevated,carrying the guide and rod With it, the guide is partiallyrotated and is automatically shifted laterally to move the metal to thenext pass and to turn it in proper position to enter. On its emergingfrom the other side of the rolls it enters one of the second series ofguides. On the descent of the tables it. is automatically shiftedlaterally in the same direction, and on emerging enters the second ofthe first-named series of guides,and so on until the metal has traversedall the passes of the rolls and has been completely reduced.

The precise nature ot the mechanism employed Will be explained in thefollowing de` scription, and, although` I show particularly theapplication of my invention to three-high rolls wi th vertically-movin gfeedtables, it Will be understood that it is not limited thereto,

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Vtween the top and middle rolls.

For the purpose of transferring the metal from the lower to the upperpasses I employ vertically-movable feed-tables 4 and 5, which may be ofany of the well-known forms. The feed-tables, which I have shown in thedrawings for the purpose of illustration, are ypivoted at their rearends on cross-shafts 6, on

which they are radially movable in avertical direction. A table of thisclass is known as a tilting table; but it will be understood that forthe purposes of my invention tables movable verticallyin a differentmanner may be employed.

To lift the feed-tables, there is the usual hydraulic cylinder 7, whoseplunger 8 is connected by counterba-lanced bell-crank levers 9 andlifting-rods 10 to the feed-tables, so that movement of the plunger inone direction shall elevate both tables on their axes 6, and thatmovement of the plunger in the other direction shall simultaneouslylower the tables. Each of the tables is providedwith a suitable numberof feed-rollers 11, which are connected by pinions 12, a counter-shaft13, and gearing 14, with a power-shaft 15, by which they are driven. Iprefer that the feedrollers should not be cylindrical in form, but thatthey should be stepped as shown in Fig. 1, the different stepscorresponding in diameter to the positions or sizes of the severalpasses of the rolls with which they co-operate in feeding and receivingthe metal.

At the delivery side of each of the passes is a iixed guide 16, which issecured to the housing in the manner shown in Fig. 3. To co-operate withthese guides in receiving, turning, and shifting the metal piece, Iemploy other guides, the use of which forms the principal feature of myinvention, and the preferable arrangement and construction of which areclearly shown in detail in the iigures on Sheet 2 of the drawings.

17 is a frame which is fixed transversely to the inner end of the frame`of each of the feed tables, and is provided with a fixed rack 18.

19 is a sliding carriage, which is preferably made of a single casting,shaped as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, and set on the frame 17,- so thatit may be capable of `being shifted laterall y thereon. The constructionof the parts used for this purpose is shown' in Fig. 3, the edges of theframe 17 being beveled, and the carriage 19 being provided with slidestrips or bars 20, which bear against said edges. Along the middle ofthe carriage 19 is a slot or cavity, made to clear and to expose thesurface of the rack 18. At the sides of the carriage are uprightflanges, forming journalbearings, in which are journaled the necks ofhollow guide tubes or boxes 21, which are so situate as to be directedtoward the rolls. The number of these guide-boxes depends upon thenumber of passes or grooves of the rolls.

In the drawings I show four guides on one side and'five on the otherside of the rolls. At the middle of each of the guides is formed anencircling pinion or spur wheel 22, which meshes with the toothed rack18, and is provided at its sides with collars, which ride on iianges atthe sides of the rack. The carriage 19 is provided with suitablecross-ribs 23 to impart strength to it, and the journals of the guidesare covered and confined by cap-plates 24. The interiors of the severalguides are 4of shape corresponding to the shape of the metal piece `tobe passed through them, and are of successively decreasing sizes,corresponding to the sections of the roll-passes from which the metal isdelivered to them. The extent of motion of the carriage 19 on the frame17 is equal to the lateral distance from onepass of the rolls to thenext. This motion may be effected by means of a handlever or otherwise,but in the figures on the first and second sheets of the drawings Iillustrate 'means for performing this Work automatically.

25 is a-bell-crank lever kpivotally secured `at b to the frame of thefeed-'table and connected by a link 26 to lugs Z on the sliding carriage19, and by a link 27 to a fixed post 28 beneath the feed-table. As shownin Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the link 27 is connected to the end of the lever25 by a double or universal joint, and to the post 28 by a similarjoint, the purpose being t'o cause the link to adapt itself in positionto the vertically-radial motion of the feedtable.

The operation of this device in shiftingthe .sliding'carriage laterallyon the feed-table is as follows: Fig. 4 shows the parts as they are whenthe feed-tables are at their lowest position with the guides 2l oppositethe passes between the middle and bottom rolls. When the feed-tablesrise to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4 and by full linesin Fig.

3, the corresponding upward motion of the.

fulcrum of the bell-crank lever of each will cause motion of this leverin the direction of the arrow a in Fig 4, thus moving the sliding'carriage of one feed-table 4 on its frame to the left, and movingthe'sliding carriage of the other feed-table 5 to the right. The partsare so proportioned in size that the extent of this motion shall beequal to the lateral distance from one pass of the rolls to the next,and the eifect will therefore be to move each pass between the lower andmiddle rolls to IOO IOS

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the next pass in lateral position between the upper and middle rolls. Inconsequence of this lateral motion of the sliding carriage on its frame,the gearing of the pinions 22 with the rack 1S will cause said pinionsand the guides to which they are fixed to rotate, and` the diameters ofthe pinions are so related to the length of travel of the carriage thatthis travel shall just be sufficient to rotate the several guides onequarter on their longitudinal axes.

'The operation of the apparatus in rolling metal is as follows: Themetal billet being properly heated, is placed on the feed-table 4c atthe side of the rolls marked A in Fig. l, and the feed-rollers beingdriven carry the metal up to the rolls, where it is introduced by theworkin en into the pass c between the bottom and middle rolls. On itsegress at the other side B of the rolls, the metal passes through thefixed guide 16 opposite the pass c and thence into and through theadjacent guide 2l. lVhen the rear end of the rod haspassedthroughthelixedguide,but beforeithas passed through the guide2l,thefeedrollers on the table 5 are stopped, and the tables are thenlifted, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The eifect of this liftingis to elevate the guide 2l, containing the, end of the metal piece tothe level of the upper passes of the rolls, and by operation of the rackand pinions and the bell-crank lever above described to shift the saidguide laterally into a position opposite the upper pass (I of the rollsand to turn it a quarter round, thereby turning also the metal piece onits longitudinal axis. The feed-rollers of the table 5 being thenstarted, carry the piece through the guide 2l into the pass (l, thencethrough the fixed guide 16 opposite thereto, and into and through theend one of the series of guides 2l on the side A of the rolls, which bylifting of the feed-t-able has been shifted laterally into properposition to receive the same. The piece is thus carried through by therolls until its rear end has passed the iXed guide and is Within theguide 2l. The feed-tables are then lowered, thus bringing the end guide2l of the series on the side A opposite the pass e and turning the metalrod, as before explained. The piece is then fedforward through the passe, through the xed guide opposite thereto, and through the second guide2l of the series on the side B, which guide, by descent of thefeed-table, has been brought opposite to this pass of the rolls. Whenthe piece is past the fixed guide, the tables are again raised, thusbringing the second guide 2l on the sideB of the rolls opposite to thepass f, and on reversal of the feed-rollers the piece is carried throughsaid pass into the second guide 2l of the series on the side A, whichguide has been automatically brought into proper position to receive themetal. The operation is thus continued by passing the metal successivelyback and forth at each pass, automatically shifting it laterally andturning it axially until it reaches the last pass m of the rolls, fromwhich it is received in its iinished state by the feed table 5.

From the foregoing description it will be noticed that the operation ofthe apparatus in receiving, delivering, and guiding the metal isentirely automatic, the only labor required in tending the rolls beingthe w'ork of a shearsman, who cuts off the billet to proper length andinserts it into the iirst pass, and of another man who manipulates thevalve by which the feed-tables are raised and lowered. It willbeapparent, also, that as no manual attention need be given to the metal,and as the rods travel in parallel lines a number of billets may bereduced in the rolls at the same time. The operation of the mill in thisway may be continued without intermission, the metalpieces followingeach otherin succession, and I am thus enabled not only to save eX-.pense in reducing the number of mill hands,

but also to augment the output of the mill to a very large extent. Theseand other advantages of my improvement will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art.

As distinguished from other means devised heretofore for feeding themetal to the rolls automatically, my invention is an improvement,because, owing to the fact that the laterally movable guides are adaptedto be mounted on vertically-movable feed-tables, they can be appliedwithout difiioulty to feedtables of the kind now in common use. Themechanism is also very eiiicient, and is simplein construction. It. isalso an improvement in respect of the conjoint use and operation of thefeeding and turning devices on both sides of the rolls.

The form of invention which I have just described is that which I deemto be the best suited for practical mill-work. It will be understood,however, that my invention is not limited strictly to the details ofconstruction of the parts described, since in many ways they may bemodified by the skilled mechanic without departing from the scope of theinvention,which covers, broadly and generally, the items set forth inthe several claims. Thus, in Fig. 7 I show a form of the invention inwhich I dispense with the use of a bell-crank lever for shifting thesliding carriage laterally, and employ instead thereof a single longlink 27, connecting the lug l on the sliding carriage to the post 28.The upward motion of the feed-table, causing the link 27 to swingradially on the aXis of the post, will induce the necessarylateralmotion of the sliding carriage. I also showin the same figure mechanismby which this lateral motion is not accomplished automatically by riseand fall of the feed-table, but independ ently, by means of a hand-lever29, which is pivoted to the feed-table frame at a point 30, and isconnected by a link 3l to the sliding carriage. In the use of this formof the apparatus, at each vertical motion of the table a workman movesthe lever so as to shift the IOO IIO

carriage to the proper extent. The link 27 should be then disconnected,and while this arrangement does not afford all the advantages inlabor-saving of the automatic apparatus shown in the figures on Sheets land 2, I consider the same within the scope of my invention. This formof the invention is well adapted to use in connection with a reversingtwo-high mill without rising and falling feed-tables.

A hydraulic cylinder may be substituted for the lever 29.

In Fig. 6 I show in connection with one of the feed-tables a devicewhich may be used in feeding the metal rod to the rolls or withdrawingit therefrom when the rod is so elongated that it does not rest on thefeed-rollers with suiiicient weight or for a sufficient part of itslength to enable the feed-rollers to exert the proper-traction. Thisdevice consists of an idle-roller 32, pivoted to arms 33, which eX- tendfrom a cross-shaft 34, journaled in suitable brackets 35 of thefeed-table, said shaft being connected by a lever 36 and link 37 to ahand-lever 38, by motion of which the roller may be moved downtoward'one of the feedrollers situate directly below the same. If, asstated above, the rod is so elongated and flexible that the feed-rollersdo not act properly thereon, the lever 38 is moved so as to depress theroller 32 upon the rod and to force it against the opposite feed-roller,thus causing the latter to exert a friction on the rod. The consequenceof this friction is' that the feedroller, being driven, will positivelydrawthe rod to or from the rolls, as the case may be.

I believe this device, consisting of an idleroller movable into contactwith the metal on the driven feed-rollers for the purpose of causing4the latter to exert a traction thereon is broadly new, and desire tocover it as of my invention, whether it be used in connection with myimproved automatic guides or not.

I claim as newl. The combination, with rolls, of a vertically-movablefeed-table adapted to be used in conjunction therewith and a guidesituate on the feed-table and movable laterally thereon, substantiallyas and for the purposes described.

2. The combination, with rolls, of stationary guides opposite the passesthereof and turning guides which are movable laterally into registerwith the stationary guides, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

3. The combination, with rolls, of a series of laterally-movable guidesset on opposite sides of the rolls, and mechanism connected therewithand adapted to shift said guides respectively in opposite directions,substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. The combination, with rolls, of verticallymovable feed-tables onopposite sides of the rolls, guides carried by each of said tables, andmechanism connected with the guides and adapted to shift the samelaterally in respectively opposite directions as the tables are moved,substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. The combination, with the rolls, of a vertically-movable feed-table,guides mounted on the table and laterally movable thereon, and amechanical connection between said guides and a point off the table,whereby vertical motion of the table will shift the guides laterally,substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. The combination, with rolls, of a laterally-sliding carriage setopposite thereto, turning guides mounted thereon, a rack, pinionsconnecting the guides and rack, and mechanism for moving the carriagelaterally, whereby on suchlateral motion the guides will be shifted andby action of the rack and pinions will be turned, substantially as andfor the purposes described.

. 7. The combination of rolls, stationary of laterally-movable guides,and mechanism connected therewith and adapted to shift said movableguides laterally into register with the stationary guides and totransfer the metal to the several roll-passes, substantially as and forthe purposes described.

8. The combination, with rolls, of vertically-movable feed-tables onopposite sides of the rolls,l guides carried by said tables, andmechanism connected with the guides and adapted to turn and shift thesame laterally in respectively opposite directions as the tables arelnoved, substantially as and for the purposes described.

9. The combination, with rolls, of a vertically-movable feed-table, alaterally-movable carriage mounted thereon, turning guides on thecarriage, a mechanical connection, substantially as described, betweenthe carriage Aand a point off the table, whereby when the table is movedvertically the carriage will be shifted automatically, and gearing bywhich on shifting the carriage the guides will be turned, substantiallyas and for the purposes described.

10. The combination, with three-high rolls having vertically-movablefeed-tables on both sides thereof, of stationary guides at the upperpasses on one side of the rolls and at the lower passes on the otherside, and-laterallymovable guides carried by the table and adapted toshift the metal and to deliver it to the stationary guides,substantially as and for the purposes described.

11. The combination, with the feed-table having driven feed-rollers, ofa roller journale'd in bearings movable toward the feedrollers to engagethe metal thereon, substantially and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day ofDecember, A. I).

HENRY AIKEN. Vitnesses:

W. B. CoRwIN, T. W. BAKEWELL.

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